WESTERN FRONT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17560, 17 August 1917, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

OFFENSIVE RENEWED. BRITISH SUCCESS NEAR LENS. GERMAN FIRST LINES CARRIED. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, August 15. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— We attacked early this morning over a wide front from tho north-western outskirts of Lens to tho , Bois Hugo, north-eastward of Loos. Wo carried tho German first lines of defenco at all points, making satisfactory progress. Eastward of Cite St Emilie a hostile counter-attack was completely crushed.-North-westward of Bixschooto our Allies gained further ground. ENEMY ATTACK REPULSED. , Australian and K.Z. Cablo Association and Beuter. LONDON, August 15. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— There is heavy artillery and riflo fire. Wo repulsed an enonvy attack eastward of Wcsthoek. Wo improved our positions in tho right bank of the Stenbcke. , , Tho French gained further ground north-west of Bixschooto. Wo repulsed raiders cast of KlienZillebeko. '

It is stormy, with heavy rain. The Portuguese, after sharp fighting, repulsed raiders estimated at three companies strong, oast of Neuvo Chapclle. Despite the enemy's aggressive tactics, our long-distance aeroplanes reached and bombed their objectives and fired on the infantry with machinegun*.

THE LENS ADVANCE. ALL OBJECTIVES REACHED. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, August 16. A British official message says:— Early this morning Canadian- troops stormed German positions south-east of Loos on a front of two miles. Formidable defences on Hill 70 were carried by assault. After storming the first trench system on tho wholo front attacked, wo advanced to Ithe western defence of Cite St Auguste, penetrating the position to tho depth of a mile. Besides an elaborate series of trendies and strong points on Hill 70, tho villages Cite fc>t Elizabeth, Cite St Emilie and Cito St Laurent, as well as the Bois Rase and the western half of tho Bois Hugo, are now in our possession. All th o objectives wero captured. Our casualties were slight. During tho day five coun-ter-attacks wero repulsed by our infantry or were broken up by artillery fire. Ono attack was made by troops of tho Prussian Guard. The enemy's losses wero heavy. The Germans taken prisoner have not been ascertained, but 282 reached the collecting stations this afternoon. On tho Ypres battlefront an attack against our positions near Ithe Pirkem Langemarck road was completely repulsed. (Cite St Auguste is a mile and a half north-east of Lens, on the road to Pont-a-Vendin. It is due cast of Hill 70, north of which is Hugo- Wood. Cite Sb Laurent is south of Hill 70, and is a mile from Lens on the road to Hulluch.) (Received August 16, 5.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 15.

Tho United Press Association correspondent said that the Canadians also stormed positions near Hill 70, carrying everything irresistibly and achieving tho day's objectives in the first rush along a thousand yards front and to a depth of nearly a mile. Rose Wood. Cite St Laurent, Cite St Emilie, part's of Cite St Elizabeth, Hugo Wood and a number of other important positions about Lens passed into British possession. Several hundred prisoners wero taken. Lens is a nioro death-trap if tho Germans contiuuo to hold it.

THE ARTILLERY BATTLES. (Received August 16, 5.5 p.m.)

PARIS, August 15. M. Marcel Hutin says:—Tho artillery of all tho Allies appear to bo striking in unison. Unfavourable weather in Flanders hampers th© aviation work, preventing tho British artillery achieving its maximum effect.

WITH THE FRENCH.

ENEMY RAIDS REPULSED

Australian and N.li. Cable Association nnd Eautor. LONDON, August 15. A French communique states:— There is'an artillcrv duel on tho Belgian front and on both banks of the Meuse.

Enemy raids at different points were easily repulsed.

•in and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter. (Received August 10, 6.20 p.m.l LONDON, August 15. A French communique says:—We made appreciable progress west of the Dixmudo road, in Belgium.

There was an active artillery duel on both banks of the Meuse. The enemy attacked west of Hill 304 but was repulsed. GERMAN REPORTS. SUCCESSES CLAIMED. Australian »nd N.Z. Cable Association and Router. LONDON, August 15. A wireless Gterman official message says:— Strong Allied enemy attacks in the western theatre ar© being prepared. Wo took prisoner a large number of Portuguese at Neuve Chapclle. The French twice unsuccessfully attacked southward of Naurifc*. Thoro is increased artillery activity on the Aisno front, in trostern Champagne and northward of Verdun. The French have brought up strong forces at Verdun, especially artillery. Wo repulsed attacks at Fluery. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association '.ad Router. (Received August 16, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 15. A wireless German official message says:—There was an artillery battle all night long in Flanders. We repulsed the English south of Frezenberg and on both sides of Hooge. There was a violent artillery duel between Hulluch and Lens. French attacks at Cerny failed. Australian vad N.Z. Cable Association tai Router. (Received August 16, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 16. A German official wireless messago says:— Infantry engagements are proceeding north of Lens and east of Cerny-en-Laonnais.